Figuring
out your skin type is an
important factor in
choosing the right skin care products. There are several categories of
skin
types: normal,
oily, dry,
and combination.
Many factors can influence and
change your skin type including aging, environmental conditions, and
sun
exposure. It is important to understand what skin type you have to
correctly
choose a skin care regime. Read on for more information about each skin
type.
 Normal
Skin
Normal skin is fairly rare. It is
characterized by small, unnoticeable
pores, smooth with no dry flaky or oily shiny areas, and is usually
blemish and
trouble-free. Normal skin is not particularly sensitive and needs a
basic skin
care routine to keep it looking healthy and fresh.
Skin care for normal skin
Skin care for normal skin should
include a few simple steps.
A basic
skin care routing includes cleansing, toning, and
moisturizing daily. It's
easy to take trouble-free skin for granted. But,
if neglected, it will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles. So
always
remember to nourish and moisturize your skin. Creams and
lotions that contain vitamin A, C, and E help improve the
texture of your skin, making it smoother and softer. Moreover, these
vitamins
counter the effects of free radicals. Even
if your skin is normal, you still have to give it regular care.
Your skin, like any other skin type, is constantly assaulted by free
radicals. Free
radicals are molecules formed in the skin when it is exposed to the
environment, pollution, or sunlight. See our skin care
product
recommendations for more advice on choosing the
best
products.
Oily Skin
Of all the
skin types, oily skin is often the most
challenging. Oil production is completely natural and is the result of
the
sebaceous glands located in the dermis or middle layer of skin. These
natural
oils help keep skin moist and supple. But for some, the sebaceous
glands
produce too much oil, leading to the most dreaded of the skin
types—oily skin.
How do I know I have oily
skin?
Most teenagers have oily skin because
this is the time when
hormone production is in full swing. But if you've passed your teen
years,
there are other ways of determining whether or not you have oily skin.
It's
fairly easy to detect, so start by looking in the mirror. Do you notice
a sheen
on your skin, especially in your “T-zone”? The T-zone starts at the
point
between your eyes and extends vertically down along your nose all the
way to
your chin. The zone also runs horizontally across the bridge of your
nose,
starting and ending at the center point below each eye.
You may or may not notice the sheen
during the day, so check
again first thing after waking. If there's a sheen, chances are good
you have
oily skin. While you're standing at the mirror, take a look at your
hair. If
it's oily, it's another indication you likely have oily skin. If you
wear makeup,
specifically foundation, and you find it fades or wears off after a
couple of
hours, that's yet another indication of oily skin. If you're constantly
patting
your face with powder or even a handkerchief it's probably because of
oily
skin.
The presence of acne and blemishes is
another good
indication of oily skin, although stress, hormones, and other factors
can all
cause outbreaks. And remember that oily skin isn't found only on the
face. The
back, neck, chest, shoulders, and arms can all be oily.
How to care for oily skin?
If you do have oily skin, you
probably feel that the best
way to combat it is to strip away those pore-clogging, sheen-producing
oils.
Don't! Although they cause trouble for your complexion, oils produced
by the
sebaceous glands are important because they act as the skin's natural
moisturizer. And oily skin is sometimes sensitive. Rather than
completely
remove oil, you need to keep it under control.
Another reason not to use harsh skin
care products that
strip away oil is that doing so may cause the sebaceous glands to
increase
their oil production. They'll instinctively want to replenish the lost
oils and
you may end up with a bigger problem.
You've got to keep oily skin clean so
that pore openings
remain clear. Otherwise, dead cells, dirt, and other bacteria will clog
pores
and cause pimples. Skin is delicate so always use a gentle cleanser and
warm,
not hot water. Exfoliate weekly with a non-abrasive product to help
remove any
pore-clogging material or use a toner that does not list alcohol as an
ingredient.
Use products that moisturize in
moderation and according to
directions. Make sure the cosmetics and sun protection you use are
oil-free.
Look for skin care products with the words “non-comedogenic” or
“non-acnegenic”
on the labels. See our skin care product recommendations for more
advice on
choosing products.
Dry Skin
Dry skin can
be a blessing but more often it is troublesome.
Those with dry skin generally need not worry about blemishes except for
the
occasional stray that appears from hormonal changes or stress. But dry
skin
looks dull and flaky. And worse, it can emphasize the appearance of
fine lines
and wrinkles.
Age and the
environment are two factors that contribute to
this skin type. Over time, the sebaceous glands within the dermis layer
slow
their production of sebum, the body's natural moisturizer. The skin's
ability
to retain moisture also lessens as we grow older. This is caused by the
breakdown of the intracellular matrix, the collagen and elastin layer
that
helps hold skin tissue together. When this layer begins to break apart,
it
becomes more difficult for skin to hold in moisture. As moisture
escapes, skin
becomes drier.
Other causes of dry skin include
climates that are arid,
windy, and dry. Use of harsh soaps and detergents and too much
unprotected
exposure to the sun's damaging rays can also negatively influence skin.
Genetics plays a role as well.
How do I know I have dry skin?
First consider
where you live. Windy areas and areas with
low humidity cause dryness by stripping skin of its natural oils.
Living in areas
where winters are cold causes skin trouble as well. Even if you don't
spend
much time outdoors, interior heaters as well as air conditioning units
in hot,
dry climates can sap the air of moisture and cause dry skin.
Visible indicators of dry skin
include skin that flakes
easily. Plus, dry skin often looks tight and taut because pore openings
are
very tiny. If you don't yet see these tell-tale signs of dry skin but
you're at
or approaching mid-life, it's time to start looking.
Caring for dry skin
If you have
dry skin, proper care involves retaining as much
moisture as possible. One way is to avoid using products containing
alcohol
because alcohol dries. Recommended ingredients for dry skin include
alpha
hydroxy, lactic acids, petroleum, lanolin and glycerin so take time to
read
product labels. See our skin care product recommendations for help in
choosing
the right skin care products.
Dry skin won't always feel like it
needs to be cleansed, but
it does, twice daily, morning and night. Using a gentle cleanser made
especially for skin that's dry, cleanse using warm, not hot water.
Finish off
with a cool rinse. It's never a good idea to use hot water to clean any
type of
skin or to soak in a tub because doing so will only strip skin of its
natural
oils.
After washing your skin, pat it dry
using a soft towel. Then
apply a light moisturizer. Those containing vitamin E are excellent
choices. If
you wear makeup, choose foundations that contain the moisturizing
ingredients
mentioned above.
Help keep skin hydrated by drinking
water and increasing
your consumption of high water content foods such as cucumbers and
watermelon.
Most fruits and vegetables are excellent hydrating foods plus they're
excellent
sources of important vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
Antioxidants
are crucial in helping maintain the skin's intracellular matrix.
Combination
Skin
Combination skin is a separate
category of skin type and
among the most common. It's neither 100% dry or normal or oily.
Instead, it is
a combination that's characterized as normal and oily skin, or skin
that's oily
and dry. In other words, like the song, combination skin is “'a little
bit of this,
and a little bit of that.”
The common denominator in either type
of combination skin is
the presence of oily areas so care must be taken not to further
aggravate these
areas. Usually, it's the areas with the highest concentration of
oil-producing
glands—the face, chest, shoulders, and the back— that are oily. Other
body
parts have fewer oil glands, which is why they're either normal or have
characteristics of dryness.
The cause of combination skin really
has to do with
oil-producing glands that produce more oil than normal. Dryness is
primarily
caused by the environment, age, and the breakdown of the intracellular
matrix.
Most people know whether they have
combination skin just by
looking at it. The areas that appear shiny likely will have some amount
of
pimples and/or blackheads. Makeup and other cosmetics usually won't
last
through an entire day without re-application. Dry areas flake and
appear dull
and may feel irritated.
Skin care for combination skin
Proper skin care for combination skin
is best described as a
delicate balancing act. You don't want to over-moisturize the oily
areas, which
mainly include the “T-zone” or you risk waking up with an explosion of
blemishes dotting your face. Likewise, you don't want to apply products
formulated for oily skin to the areas that aren't oily or you risk
waking up
with skin that feels taut and scaly, especially around the eyes and
mouth. So
what's the proper way to care for combination skin?
Cleansing twice daily with warm water
and a gentle gel
cleanser is most important. This helps to remove dead skin cells, dirt,
and
excess oil so they don't block pore openings. Follow with a toner
that's either
water-based or glycerin-based after cleansing to help remove remaining
residue.
Periodic exfoliating is recommended to remove any remaining dead cells
so new
skin can take its place. It helps keep skin looking fresh and radiant.
Be sure
to look for skin care products that aim to balance the different skin
types.
See our skin care product recommendations for more advice on choosing
the
correct skin care products.
For oily-normal skin, you want to
keep skin hydrated, but
dry in the areas prone to excessive oil. Choose moisturizers that are
water-based rather than oil-based, making sure to apply sparingly to
oil-prone
areas. Spot-treat blemishes as necessary. Benzoyl peroxide products are
very
effective. Apply cosmetics designed to absorb oils, like powders or dab
with
oil-absorbing tissues as necessary.
For oily-dry
skin, moisturizing dry areas with
emollient-based products is important to keep skin feeling fresh. The
eyes may
need an even heavier moisturizer and if so, just be sure to keep it
away from
the T-zone.
And never forget the importance of
applying sunscreen.
Fortunately, many foundations and powders now do double-duty as both
makeup and
sunscreen! | 
